January check..
man, how time flies..
2011-01-31
2011-01-30
2011-01-29
Day 29
I had a chat with my American boss at work.. he doesn't understand why hotdogs here in manila are red..
I couldn't give him an answer as I don't know why as well
2011-01-27
2011-01-26
Day 26
NY league of PUA start in two weeks.. time to start training!
gahh haven't played in over 2 months
http://www.philippineultimate.org/pua/
2011-01-24
Movie 6: Everybody's Fine
Movie 6: Everybody's Fine (2009)
Jan 23, 2011Star Movies
Frank Goode lives by himself in Elmira, NY, a recent widower with heart trouble, retired from a factory job, proud of having pushed his adult children toward success. In the summer, all four kids bail on a reunion, so, against doctor's orders, Frank decides to surprise each with a visit. He sets out to see his artist son in New York City, his daughter the ad exec in Chicago, his son the conductor on tour and presently in Denver, and his daughter who's a performer in Vegas. None are as he imagines or hopes. Will they let him see themselves as they are, and can this dad adapt? Written by
A road trip of self-discovery, this movie is very heartwarming..
It has an indie feel to it and the characters are very well written..
The actors just play it just right, meaning they underplay their already superstar status..
So it's
Robert De Niro as Frank the father
Drew Barrymore as Rosie the performer daughter from Las Vegas
Kate Beckinsale as Amy the ad exec
Sam Rockwell as Robert the touring conductor
It's like a good book, I recommend it to parents with adult children..
8/10
Movie 5: Black Swan
Movie 5: Black Swan (2010)
Jan 22, 2011
Downloaded, streamed to Ps3
Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her - Fox
This movie was directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, π , Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain)
I've only seen π and The Wrestler so far. Pi blew my mind and we all know about the award winning Mickey Rourke perfomance in the latter.. I've had Requiem for a Dream on my laptop for over a year and haven't had a chance to check it out yet.. I've heard The Fountain is alright as well..
Black Swan is shot in a very raw manner just like The Wrestler. This time, it shows the behind-the-scenes of the ballet world. It gives a glimpse of the pains ballerinas go through for this art.. We see shots where the ballerinas bend and break their bodies for the sake of form and figure, how they mend their ballet shoes, how they spend hours in front of the mirror fixing their makeup, how they manage passing by all the creeps in city subways.. in short, how they devote their lives to perform..
So Portman is vying for the role of the lead in Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."
If you're unfamiliar, here's the story:
"Virginal girl, pure and sweet, trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom but only true love can break the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince, but before he can declare his love her lustful twin, the black swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated the white swan leaps of a cliff killing herself and, in death, finds freedom." (a line from the movie)
Portman's character, Nina is just right for the role. Nina is the perfectionist dancing most her life to please her mother. But innocent, frigid and sexually repressed which is not what the black swan represents.
Portman gives a great performance here. I was in awe how she showed her range and just nails it. She can be that innocent little girl and then she goes 180 becoming more daring.. So Nina transforms herself to be the Black Swan the director demands.. if she doesn't, Lily, (Mila Kunis) would be there to replace her.. Lily is more suited for the role, with her sex appeal and carefree attitude.. ( and sweet tat on her back)
Kunis delivers a level of depth in this film.. She really puts on a performance compared to her flat characters before..(I mostly know her from That 70's show and the voice of Meg in Family Guy)
Having the raw style of the Wrestler, this film however, is more akin to the style of Pi and Requiem as Nina's transformation takes her on a psychological ride to become what she needs to be.. It's not a horror film but more of a film of discovery.. an opening of the mind..haha i don't know how to describe it. just watch it!!
The whole movie is like an opera/ballet show and the last act is where this film becomes great.. So Nina performs as the White Swan and transforms into the Black Swan..
No words, just movement and music..
I don't know how they shot the intricate dance sequences but youre right there on the stage with dozens of dancers all around the actors..
The lighting was fantastic, of course, they were on a stage where all the lights are suppsed to be, but as a photographer, I can see how they used lighting in tandem with the dance and music to give you each emotion they want the viewer to feel..
Finally the music just hits you with bringing you along with drama, suspense and in the end, triumph and peace..
Just like a magnificent ballet show, you feel all the ups and downs and in the end, there's nothing but applause for the work of art...
So I highly recommend this..
Of course, it has adult material, but all for the sake of the theme of the film..
9/10
Jan 22, 2011
Downloaded, streamed to Ps3
Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her - Fox
This movie was directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, π , Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain)
I've only seen π and The Wrestler so far. Pi blew my mind and we all know about the award winning Mickey Rourke perfomance in the latter.. I've had Requiem for a Dream on my laptop for over a year and haven't had a chance to check it out yet.. I've heard The Fountain is alright as well..
Black Swan is shot in a very raw manner just like The Wrestler. This time, it shows the behind-the-scenes of the ballet world. It gives a glimpse of the pains ballerinas go through for this art.. We see shots where the ballerinas bend and break their bodies for the sake of form and figure, how they mend their ballet shoes, how they spend hours in front of the mirror fixing their makeup, how they manage passing by all the creeps in city subways.. in short, how they devote their lives to perform..
So Portman is vying for the role of the lead in Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."
If you're unfamiliar, here's the story:
"Virginal girl, pure and sweet, trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom but only true love can break the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince, but before he can declare his love her lustful twin, the black swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated the white swan leaps of a cliff killing herself and, in death, finds freedom." (a line from the movie)
Portman's character, Nina is just right for the role. Nina is the perfectionist dancing most her life to please her mother. But innocent, frigid and sexually repressed which is not what the black swan represents.
Portman gives a great performance here. I was in awe how she showed her range and just nails it. She can be that innocent little girl and then she goes 180 becoming more daring.. So Nina transforms herself to be the Black Swan the director demands.. if she doesn't, Lily, (Mila Kunis) would be there to replace her.. Lily is more suited for the role, with her sex appeal and carefree attitude.. ( and sweet tat on her back)
Kunis delivers a level of depth in this film.. She really puts on a performance compared to her flat characters before..(I mostly know her from That 70's show and the voice of Meg in Family Guy)
Having the raw style of the Wrestler, this film however, is more akin to the style of Pi and Requiem as Nina's transformation takes her on a psychological ride to become what she needs to be.. It's not a horror film but more of a film of discovery.. an opening of the mind..haha i don't know how to describe it. just watch it!!
The whole movie is like an opera/ballet show and the last act is where this film becomes great.. So Nina performs as the White Swan and transforms into the Black Swan..
No words, just movement and music..
I don't know how they shot the intricate dance sequences but youre right there on the stage with dozens of dancers all around the actors..
The lighting was fantastic, of course, they were on a stage where all the lights are suppsed to be, but as a photographer, I can see how they used lighting in tandem with the dance and music to give you each emotion they want the viewer to feel..
Finally the music just hits you with bringing you along with drama, suspense and in the end, triumph and peace..
Just like a magnificent ballet show, you feel all the ups and downs and in the end, there's nothing but applause for the work of art...
So I highly recommend this..
Of course, it has adult material, but all for the sake of the theme of the film..
9/10
2011-01-23
Day 23
Lolo Ponching's 80th bday party today..
we ate at Yue Lai Seafood & Hotpot Restaurant..
the foods fine.. the service pretty bad..
pero had fun today
2011-01-22
Day 22
My Lola Tia Nenang died the other day.. Went to Angeles Pampanga for the wake...
She died peacefully at 95 years old..
I'm going to miss her..
2011-01-21
Day 21
just came home from Army Navy..
I had the Bully Burger which is 3 quarter pound patties..
then had a steak burrito and also some onion rings..
yumyumyum
I had the Bully Burger which is 3 quarter pound patties..
then had a steak burrito and also some onion rings..
yumyumyum
2011-01-20
2011-01-18
Day 18
cooooooooookie..
Notice the top left pic.. i don't do balls...
I like the spoon drop method since once it comes out of the oven, it's textured..
2011-01-17
2011-01-16
2011-01-15
2011-01-14
2011-01-13
Movie 4: Letters to Juliet
Movie 4: Letters to Juliet (2010)
Jan 11, 2011 DVD
An American girl on vacation in Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet" -- and she goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the letter
Jan 11, 2011 DVD
An American girl on vacation in Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet" -- and she goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the letter
This movie is for those wanting a fantasy.. compared to Going the Distance which shows some reality..
typical and predictable, i would say it's a little below your average rom com, but better than Bounty Hunter or What Happens in Vegas.
Amanda Seyfried is just okay for me.. but other people find that she only has 2 expressions.. what do you guys think?
Christopher Egan plays the lead guy.. don't know much about him.. but pretty annoying, or maybe he's just playing his British wrong.. he's actually from Sydney
I dunno.. the movie was really so-so.. you'll enjoy it once.. but forget about it at once..
2011-01-12
2011-01-11
Movie 3: Going the Distance
Movie 3: Going the Distance
Jan 11, 2011
DVD (Blu-ray copy daw.. haha)
A romantic comedy centered on a guy and a gal who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between New York and San Francisco to see one another.
I just love Drew Barrymore.. she's not as zany here in this movie as compared to her other characters before.. she's more real in this, and even starts to show her age (35) in some scenes.. though she supposed to be 31 in the movie
Justin Long.. is just the same character.. hehe
This movie is nice! There are funny moments and some genuine moments, and kinda R rated with the language (feeling 40 yr old Virgin) and it tackles something real like the long distance relationship situation, also even gives a nod to the current economic situation like the decline in the newspaper and music label biz...
but that's the problem, it's trying to do too much.. too much that it feels a little awkward..
too much that the editing suffered and there are some dropped subplots that could be interesting to see further and the "honeymoon" period is aptly a montage but a little rushed..
what really made this film a flick to see is the chemistry between drew and justin..
but overall.. a forgetful movie..
Score: 4/10
ps. you will remember Charlie Day and his scene on the crapper
Jan 11, 2011
DVD (Blu-ray copy daw.. haha)
A romantic comedy centered on a guy and a gal who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between New York and San Francisco to see one another.
I just love Drew Barrymore.. she's not as zany here in this movie as compared to her other characters before.. she's more real in this, and even starts to show her age (35) in some scenes.. though she supposed to be 31 in the movie
Justin Long.. is just the same character.. hehe
This movie is nice! There are funny moments and some genuine moments, and kinda R rated with the language (feeling 40 yr old Virgin) and it tackles something real like the long distance relationship situation, also even gives a nod to the current economic situation like the decline in the newspaper and music label biz...
but that's the problem, it's trying to do too much.. too much that it feels a little awkward..
too much that the editing suffered and there are some dropped subplots that could be interesting to see further and the "honeymoon" period is aptly a montage but a little rushed..
what really made this film a flick to see is the chemistry between drew and justin..
but overall.. a forgetful movie..
Score: 4/10
ps. you will remember Charlie Day and his scene on the crapper
2011-01-10
Day 10
Woah... while taking my photo of the day, i found the secret disc of the Lost Collection Blu Ray set..
2011-01-09
2011-01-08
Day 8
"There must be some fucking chemical,
Chemical in your brain
that makes us different from animals,
makes us all the same....
Take it if it makes you numb,
take it if it makes you calm,
take it if it makes you make it perfect,
take it if it makes you talk,
take it if it makes you cough,
take it if it makes you forget verses..."
Never Hear Surf Music Again - Free Blood
Movie 2: 127 Hours
Movie #2
127 Hours (2010)
Jan 7, 2011
Downloaded watched on ps3
A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive
Full Trailer
I like this trailer coz of the song - Never Hear Surf Music Again by Free Blood
127 Hours (2010)
Jan 7, 2011
Downloaded watched on ps3
A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive
Full Trailer
I like this trailer coz of the song - Never Hear Surf Music Again by Free Blood
You can also watch almost up to 6 minutes here
Directed by Danny Boyle who made 28 Days Later…,Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire
you can expect this to be a very stylized and you'll expect a very sensual visual and audio treat..
Too bad I watched this on just my TV, but the dessert sequences are awesome.. if this was on IMAX, the shots would just consume you
James Franco plays Aron Ralston. This is a true story of a real life mountain climber and how he SPOILER cuts of his arm to survive after almost 127 stuck under a rock. SPOILER i know but how what can you expect reading the title and seeing the poster? Anyways, it's how Danny Boyle directs this and how Franco really puts on a performance. I mean, how can you really stretch the plot for 1 and a half hours?
But they do a great job and I found myself rooting for him even though I know whats going to happen.
I recently got into mountain climbing and I try to imagine if I am capable of what he did.
This is a movie of perseverance, of examining your life and asking yourself if you regret anything.
Aron was so sorry of his selfish ways and how he thought he can do everything on his own.
This is a movie about living your life and about hope if feel you can't take it any longer..
Very inspiring, I recommend it to those with a strong stomach..
haha
Movie 1: Mulholland Dr.
Movie #1
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Jan 6, 2011
Downloaded watched on laptop
A bright-eyed young actress travels to Hollywood, only to be ensnared in a dark conspiracy involving a woman who was nearly murdered, and now has amnesia because of a car crash. Eventually, both women are pulled into a psychotic illusion involving a dangerous blue box, a director named Adam Kesher, and the mysterious night club Silencio.
This is one creepy movie. It's the type of movies that has twists and turns and you're trying your hardest to get a grasp of the situation until you don't know which way is up.
It has everything from comedy to drama to action to girl on girl.. It has Billy Ray, it has a mob boss, it has cowboys..
Set in the city of angels, and looking like its in the early 90's (shot in 2000 but the script of it was already in the works by early 90's) everything feels so dreamy..
I don't want to spoil it but at first viewing, you're just going to go crazy.. it takes a second or even more viewing to get everything.. and of course, you can go online like I did..
Starring Naomi Watts (King Kong, The Ring) and Laura Harring (John Q, former Miss USA) and performances of Justin Theroux , and even Billy Ray Cyrus is there!! haha
This is must see film. People have responded to in at the extremes but after watching it, you must agree that this is a piece of work!
2011-01-07
2011-01-06
2011-01-05
Day 5
I found a website for suggestions on a weekly theme so i dont just keep shooting crap at home..
Week Starts Theme
Jan 01 Newness
Jan 03 Cold
Jan 10 Breakfast
Jan 17 Macro
Jan 24 Tired
Jan 31 Sleep
Feb 07 Body Parts
Feb 14 Romance
Feb 21 Spirit
Feb 28 Vegetables
Mar 07 Underneath
Mar 14 Spring/Autumn
Mar 21 Planning
Mar 28 Fools
Apr 04 Excitement
Apr 11 Work
Apr 18 Growth
Apr 25 Trees
May 02 Mother
May 09 Up
May 16 Anger
May 23 Temptation
May 30 Looking in
Jun 06 Party
Jun 13 Father
Jun 20 Swing
Jun 27 Lighting Experimentation
Jul 04 Red, White, Blue
Jul 11 Family
Jul 18 Summer/Winter
Jul 25 Time
Aug 01 Water
Aug 08 Shadows
Aug 15 Peace
Aug 22 Defeat
Aug 29 Sunset
Sep 05 Spice
Sep 12 The Kitchen
Sep 19 Autumn/Spring
Sep 26 Tools
Oct 03 Colors
Oct 10 My Neighbors
Oct 17 On The Shelf
Oct 24 Memories
Oct 31 Texture
Nov 07 Wind
Nov 14 Music
Nov 21 Gathering
Nov 28 Beyond Reach
Dec 05 Smiles
Dec 12 After
Dec 19 Winter/Summer
Dec 26 Oldness
Read more: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/53-weekly-themes-for-your-2011-project-365
2011-01-04
Day 4
just a quick shot of Ira..
Trying out a Brenizer effect..
I'll try it again outside in daylight when over the weekend..
2011-01-03
2011-01-02
Day 2
Man this is hard...
I spent the whole day thinking what I should shoot for today. Will this get even harder as the days go by?
I kept thinking, "any picture will do", then I realize that's just taking the easy way out.
I need this project to push myself, to bring out my creativity and not just be a chore.
I have mixed emotions of being excited and anxiety.. but I can do this.
Today was good. This morning, I heard mass and in the homily, Fr. Mar introduced this nun who will be a hundred, (yes 100) years old this Jan 5th.. and her secret to such a long life? just living for God and for others.. I hope to live a life like that.
I bought a bluray of Step Brothers.. double disc with hours of footage.
I knew it, this movie was all improv! they just did each scene over and over, improving each and every line.. funny shit!
Went to Sunken in the afternoon. First time to toss in months.. man, I really need to get back into shape..
Anyways, back to work tomorrow.
2011-01-01
Day 1
Day 1 guys!
I'm starting on a 365 project and hopefully I see it through to the end!
I would appreciate your comments and suggestions for future subjects!
This year is going to be great! I can just feel it!
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